Collapsible chicken coop



March 8, 1927.

1,620,143 H E. S. TRIMBLE COLLAPSIBLE CHICKEN COOP Filed Nov. 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

1 620,143 March 1927' E. s. TREMBLE COLLAPS IBLE CHICKEN COOP Filed Nov. 6, 1925 2 Sheets-$heet 2 l? u 2 *5 (a 8 a nu-elder L5. 2%; 6 Z0,

Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

1 :5 Fl A 'l'E M 1" ea.

EDWIN S. .TRIMBLE, 0F ATCHISON, KANSAS.

COLLAPSIBLECHIGKEN COOP.

Application filed November This invention relates to improvements in chicken coops and has for its principal ob ject to provide one which is of suchconstruction as to permittlie same being compactly "folded for shipping or storing purposes the same being further adapted to be readily and easily set up insposition,

for use.

A further object of 1 the invention is to provide acollapsible chickencoop wherein the same includes abottom, ioldable ends and sides, and a top, thetop beingassociated with the respective ends for iacilitatingthe upward swinging movement of the end members to an uprightposition simultaneouswith theraising oi the top whereby the side members may be swung upwardly to an upright position, additional means *being provided on the top for cooperation with the side members for holding the same in their uprightposition whereby the chicken tioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive strong and durable and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during "the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings forming part o'lithe present application and in which like numerals designate'like parts throughout the same:

Figure l-is a top plan-viewof the chicken coopembodying my invention showing the same in its assembled position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

'Figure 3-is an end elevation.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken 6, 1-925. Se1'ia1"l\T0.'67,402.

approximately on line l l of Figure '2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the 002p ln'its partially collapsed. position i -r1gure 61s a iragmentary detail'perspective of the spring attached forming a part of the "present invention, and

Figure 7 is a detail *sectional view taken approximately on line Z'7 of Figure f1, showing the manner in which the hooked ends oi the intermediate longitudinallyextending rods i'orming a part of the'top of the coop engage'theupper edgeoi? the end members.

lathe drawings, whereirrfor the purpose of illustration is shown "the preferred em bodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally my improved collapsible chicken coop, the-same comprising the substantially rectangular base or bottom 2 which formed preferably or wood. tending longitudinally along the bottom of the wooden base 2 adjacent the respective side edges of the base aswell as along the intermediate portion thereof are the rods Transverscly extending rods l-are also ar ra'nged'cn the bottom of the wooden base adjacent the respective ends thereof as well as'at the intermediate portion and all of these rods are connected together at their inter ections in any suitable manner'suohas by spot welding. Extending upwardly from each of the longitudinally extending side wires arethe hooks 5, and similar hooks 6 extend upwardly iromthe respective transversely extending end rods. This construction is more clearly illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing. he upper tree ends of the hooks are disposed above the upper surface of the wooden 'base a r bottom 2, and the purpose thereof willhereinafter be more fully described.

The coop further includes the end mem bore '2' and 8 re pect-iveiy. 'Each ofthe en'd members includesthe frame 9 formed fronr asingleelong-ated strand ot'wire. A series upper aud'lower portions oi? the frame 'ol eah of the end members and intersecting these rods are the horizontally arrang-red rods 11, the same also being spot welded or otherwise secured to the respective sides of each of-the frames and further being spot welded to the vertical rods at the point of intersection therewith. Additional rods 12 are disposed diagonally across the vertical rods in the manner as more clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

The end members 7 and 8 are hingedly supported on the respective ends of the base or bottom 2 and to this end the hooks 6 which extend upwardly from the transverse- 1y extending end rods 1 engage the bottom portions of the frames of the respective end members as also clearly illustrated in ure 3. As is shown in Figure 3, the ends of the uppermost horizontally extending rods 11 are not secured to the respective sides of the frame of each of the end members, but are spaced therefrom and are secured to the outermost vertical rods and the purpose of this arrangement will be presently apparcut.

The side members forming a part of the coop are designated by the numerals 13 and 14 respectively, and each of the side members comprises a frame 15 formed of an elongated strand of wire. Spaced. verti- Cally and horizontally ar'anged rods 16 and 17 respectively are arranged between the top and bottom and the respective sides or ends respectivelyof each of the frames,

and these rods are spot welded or otherwise secured at their ends to the frame as well as at their intersections with each other.

The side members are also hingedly sup ported at their lower edges to the respective sides of the base or bottom 2, and the up standing hooks 5 associated with the longitudinally extending rods 3 adjacent the side edges of the base engage the lower portions of the frames of each of the side members to afford the aforementioned hinged connections. The side members are of such height as to permit the upper edges of the frames thereof to be disposed in slight spaced relation with respect to each other when the side members are swung inwardly and are disposed on top oi the upper sur are disposed in parallel spat-ed relation with respect to the adjacent intern'iediate portion to provide what I term as end loops 22. he free ends of the elongated rods 19 are dis posed in abutting relation and are welded or otherwise secured to the intermediate portion of the rod as at 23. This construction is clearly illustrated in Figure 5 and the purpose of forming the loops which are of an elongated form or shape will be hereinafter fully described. The free ends of the intermediate longitudinally extending rods 20 terminate in the books 24 and these hooks are adapted for detachable engagement with the upper portions of the frames of the respective end members 8 and 7 in the manner as clearly illustrated in Figure 7.

The top 18 is further provided with an enlarged central opening 25 whereby access to the coop when the latter is assembled may be easily had. A closure 26 is slidably mounted on the top 18 and may be readily and easily slid over the opening to cover the same and this is accomplished by having the longitudinally extending rods 27 of the closure provided at their ends with hooks which ,slidably engage the transversely extending rods 28, the latter extending between the outermost pair of rods 19. and being of a heavier gage than the other transversely extending rods 21 in the manner as more clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

As clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings, the upper portions of the end members 7 and 8 are slidably associated with the elongated loop 22 formed at the end of the rods 19. and in this manner, a connection between the top and the end memhers is provided whereby the same are adapted for simultaneous operation as will be presently described.

For the purpose of holding the upper tree portions of the side members in an upright position when the coop is assembled, I provide spring wire or rod 29. the same extending transversely across the intermediate portion of the top and being spot welded or otherwise secured to the intermediate portions of the longitudinally extending rods 20 at their points of intersection. Each end of the spring wire or rod 29 is bent downwardly as at 30 and thence upwardly as at 31 and thence laterally as at 82. The laterally extending portions 32 terminating in the angular disposed portions 33. and as is clearly illustrat d in Figure 6, the angularly disposed portions extend beyond the sides of the tops so as to provide a suitable handle. By forming each end of the spring wire in the manner as above described, a pair of: spring catches will be provided. The upwardly disposed portions 31 will engage the upper portions of the frame of the respective side members and hold the samein abutting relation with respect to the loopedrods 19 which extend along thesides of the top 18.

The coop is further provided with a central partition designated generally by the numeral 34:, and the same includes a frame 35 and the horizontally and vertically ar ranged rods 36 and 37 respectively, these rods being also arranged in spaced relation and being iurthermorc secured to the frame as 'well --as .at their intersect-ions. in :a; manner similar to that-in which themed-s of: the other aforementioned-frames (are secured. Eel-he partition -34 is "hingedly =secured at its -bottom -.to the intermediate portion of" the .base or bottom r2,-ancl to this end, suitableshooks 38, similar to the hooksb iand-i6 extend upwardly from the transverselyrextending-rods disposed adj-acentthe bottom-of theibase it being understood rot course Ithat suitable openings are provided in the base to. :aecommodate the i-hooks 38, .iandwthe latter engage the bottom portion of-the iframe 35- as shown clearly ;in "'Fi.-gure 4. "The partition is of same shape as the end members of the coop and is adapted to fold or swing in either direction.

The downwardly disposed portions 30 of the spring rod or wire 29 cooperate with the inwardly disposed fingers 39 which are arranged at the intermediate portions of the looped rods 19 in supporting the partition in its vertical position in the manner as clearly illustrated in Figure 6. The inwardly extending fingers 39 furthermore frictionally engage the bottom of the upper portions of the frames of the side members to assist in holding the latter in their proper positions.

In this manner, the partition will provide a twofold purpose, in one instance the par tition permits the coop to be divided into separate compartments whereby a mixed shipment of poultry may be placed within the respective compartments of the coop, the central opening 25 arranged in the top being so positioned as to permit access to either of the compartments when the partition is in use. Furthermore, the partitions may be used as an additional means for bracing and supporting the coop when the latter is assemblec.

lVhen the coop is not in use, or whenever it is desired to fold or otherwise collapse the same in a compact manner, the spring catches are disengaged from engagement with the partition, and the latter is caused to swing downwardly so as to lie flat against the upper surface of the base or bottom of the coop. The side members 13 and 14 are then disengaged from the spring catches and the inwardly extending fingers 39 and are then swung inwardly in the manner as indi-- cated by the dotted lines in Figure 4 so as to also rest upon the upper surface of the base or bottom.

The upper portions of the respective end members are then moved inwardly toward each other so that the upper portion of each of the frames of each of the end members will slide in the looped portions 22 of the top 18 and by pushing the'top downwardly, the end members will simultaneously swing inwardly and downwardly in the manner as indicated by the arrows in Figure 5, so that the "end members will overlap-the= si zde menr bersand the top 18 will then lie -flat upon the superimposed sides and endmmembers. In thisi-mannenthe crates or:coops will be'-collapsed to ;provide a compact :arrangement, and when. in-this conditiomthe coopsm-ay be easiiy andreadily r'handled or :transported, and will not occupy anyconsidenableuamount of space. 1

'lhenever it is desired -.to;"i.iseithe coopathe same :eait be readily and easily vassen'ibled :in the mannervas is obvious'fromthe-:constructionshowndn the drawings,. andwwhen once assembledpthere willebe noi possibility; of the parts accidentally becoming disengaged and causing the accidental collapsing of the coop.

The simplicity of my improved coop enables the same to be manufactured at a very low cost and by constructing the same of rods so as to provide an open work structure, the coop is rendered strong and durable.

\Vhile I have shown the preferred embodi- I ment of my invention it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A collapsible coop comprising a base, end and side members hingedly secured at their lower portions to the base, and a top, said top being operatively connected with the upper free portions of the end members whereby the same are adapted for simultaneous operation, a central partition hingedly secured at its lower portion on the base, and means for holding the side and end members and the partition in their upright position.

2. A collapsible coop comprising a base, end and side members hingedly secured at. their lower portions to the base, and a top, said top being operatively connected with the upper free portions of the end members whereby the same are adapted for simultaneous operation, a central partition hingedly secured at its lower portion onthe base, and means for holding the side and end members and the partition in their upright position, said last mentioned means comprising catches carried by the top.

3. A collapsible coop comprising a base, end and side members hingedly secured at their lower portions to the base, a top, said top being operatively connected with the upper free portions of the end members whereby the same are adapted for simultaneous operation, a central partition hingedly secured at its lower portion on the base, and means for holding the side and end members and the partition in their upright position, said means comprising spring catches carried by the top and adapted to engage the upper portion of the partition on one side thereof, and inwardly extending fingers carried by the top and adapted to engage the opposite sides of the partition.

4. A collapsible coop comprising a base, end and side members hingedly secured at their lower portions to the base, a top, said top being provided at its sides adjacent the respective ends thereof with loopedportions in which the upper portions of the respective end members are adapted to slide whereby an operative connection between the top and the free portions of theend members is provided to effect the simultaneous actuation of the top and the end members, a central partition hingedly secured at its lower portion on the base, and means for holding the coop in its assembled position, said means comprising a spring wire extending transversely across the intermediate portion of the top and being secured thereto each end of the spring wire being bent downwardly and thence upwardly, and thence laterally to provide spring catches adapted for engagement with the partition and the intermediate portions of the side members.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature EDWIN S. TRIMBLE. 

